Many in the Republican Party have flaunted and thumbed their noses to our laws and the Constitution. This has been going on for some time. They have used lies and dishonesty without penalty. I am not talking about exaggerating the size of crowds. I am talking about lies and illegal acts that have been their tool box. It is not unfair to say so much of this is very reminiscent of the Nazi period and Hitler’s rise to power. I think this is a big part of the GOP playbook.
Our system has been slow to respond to the villiany from within. But now, we are seeing that no man is above the law. Yesterday, Trump under oath, in questions from the NY Attorney General (this is a financial fraud investigation), from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, only answered one question, his name. Trump pleaded the 5th Amendment to all the questions asked him after answering the one question of his name. His son Eric, pleaded the 5th over 500 times in similar questioning last October. Trump has made the statement that only mob bosses plead the 5th, those guilty of crimes. Well, I think Trump affirmed what I have been saying for years – Trump is the head of a crime family. Do not forget that Trump learned at the lap of Roy Cohn, another villian in history.
Earlier this week, the FBI went to Trump’s home in Florida, Mar Lago, and executed a search warrant issued by a Federal judge. The Dept. of Justice had to show and convince a judge what evidence of a crime they were looking for, where it would be found in Trump’s home, and prove probable cause of a crime. In the case of a former president, the Constitutional requirements to obtain a search warrant of a the president’s home would have been amplified and adhered to beyond any doubt not. Anything obtained in the process of the search would have to documented and listed and the list provided to Trump. Trump had two of his attorneys present during the search to represent him and protect his rights. The FBI cannot reveal what they obtained, in this case, about 12 boxes of material and documents, but Trump can reveal the search warrant itself, and the itemized list of what was taken in the search.
I go back to those of you that have, and continue to support Trump and the party. You and I are clearly on different moral and ethical plains. Yes, it makes a difference in relationships and the assumption of integrity. Why wouldn’t it? That is a rhetorical question – the answer is self-evident.
We, as a nation are struggling to bring justice to those who have acted like they were above the law, whether they be Congressmen and women fomenting and plotting to undermine an election and cancel the peaceful transfer of power or presidents that have acted with impunity as they have flaunted the law and acted like dictators. Of course, they scream when the wheels of justice turn to them. This is what bringing justice to those who have escaped justice with impunity until now is like.
Let it happen, and maybe some will be also going through a process of self-examination and questioning.
A Vermonter Writes - A Pathfinder 